Start-up Hans Airways has appointed Seema Verma to the role, bringing 25 years’ travel industry experience to the role, in which she will manage the airline’s relationships with UK-based agents and TMCs.

Verma, who speaks Punjabi, started her career in aviation at Birmingham airport and has previously held customer support roles with Emirates, Lufthansa, KLM and others.

Her final customer-facing role was with British Airways before a spell in banking and foreign exchange. She returns to travel as Hans gears up to launch, pending the formal award of a UK air operator’s certificate by the CAA.

“Delivering and building relationships is crucial in such a people-focused business," said Verma. "The culture of Hans Airways, which is positioning as a community airline, has that at its heart."

Hans, which has just moved into a new, dedicated office at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre, will make Amritsar in northern India its first route, which it will operate using a two-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Verma will be based out of the new HQ, along with the rest of the carrier’s commercial team headed up by chief commercial officer Martin Dunn.

Hans plans to start operations at Birmingham within a month of receiving its UK AOC from the CAA. It is currently recruiting for around 20 additional Birmingham-based cabin crew roles.